Caloocan City

Caloocan Lungsod ng Caloocan
Bonifacio Monument
Seal
Motto: Moving from Vision to Victory
Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Caloocan City
Country	Philippines
Region	National Capital Region
Province	none (Former part of Rizal province until 1975)
Districts	1st and 2nd Districts of Caloocan City
Barangays	188
Incorporated (town)	1815
Cityhood	February 16, 1962
Government
- Mayor	Enrico "Recom" Echiverri (Lakas-CMD; 2007-2010)
- Vice Mayor	Luis "Tito" Varela (Kampi; 2007-2010)
Area
- Total	53.33 km2 (20.6 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- Total	1,378,856
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	1400 for Caloocan City Post Office
Area code(s)	02
Website	Official Website of the City of Caloocan

Caloocan is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located just north of the City of Manila, Caloocan is the country's third most populous city with a population of 1,378,856 as of the 2007 census.^[1]

Geography

Caloocan City (formally/Filipino Makasaysayang Lungsod ng Caloocan) is divided into two separate areas. Southern Caloocan City lies directly north of the City of Manila and is bounded by Malabon City and Valenzuela City to the north and west, Navotas to the west, and Quezon City to the east. Northern Caloocan City is the northernmost territory of Metro Manila; it lies east of Valenzuela City, north of Quezon City, and south of San Jose del Monte City in the province of Bulacan.

History

Cradle of the Katipunan

Bonifacio Monument sculpted by Guillermo Tolentino

The city is historically significant because it was the center of activities for the Katipunan, the secret militant society that launched the Philippine Revolution during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. It was in a house in Caloocan where secret meetings were held by Andres Bonifacio and his men, and it was within the city's perimeters where the very first armed encounter took place between the Katipunan and the Spaniards.

The word caloocan comes from the Tagalog root word lo-ok; kalook-lookan (or kaloob-looban) means "innermost area". The City borders many other cities such as Quezon City, Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and San Jose Del Monte Bulacan in the north. During the formation of Rizal Province, Caloocan was included in its matrix until 1975.

The city's most celebrated landmark is the monument of Philippine revolutionary Andres Bonifacio, which is located at the end of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The memorial was erected in 1933 with sculptures crafted by national artist Guillermo Tolentino to mark the very first battle of the Philippine revolution on August 3, 1896. Recent renovations have been made on the environs of the monument, including the Bonifacio Circle, its former site, and the Caloocan stretch of EDSA, which is 100 meters away from the landmark. The whole area is now known as Monumento (English: Monument).

Highlights

The Balintawak Toll Barrier of the North Luzon Expressway located in Caloocan City.

The Victory Liner Caloocan City terminal.

The Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) has a terminal at Monumento. The railway traverses Rizal Avenue Extension of Caloocan City, into the City of Manila and Pasay City. The whole stretch can be traveled in about 30 minutes.

Caloocan City's 10th Avenue area is well-known for the clusters of motorcycle dealers and motorcycle spare parts dealers. Among the major and famous streets are P. Zamora Street and A. Mabini Street.

The city's lone public university is the University of Caloocan City (formerly Caloocan City Polytechnic College). Other educational institution of higher learning are the University of the East - Caloocan,Holy Redeemer School of Caloocan, World Citi Colleges (formerly known as Holy Trinity School) and Manila Central University. Several prestigious high schools, such as Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Caloocan City Science High School, Systems Plus Computer College, Philippine Cultural High School (Annex), St. Mary's Academy of Caloocan City (Known as SMACC and formerly known as OLGA or Our Lady of Grace Academy), St. Clare College of Caloocan, Mystical Rose School of Caloocan, Holy Infant Montessori Center, Saint Joseph College of Novaliches, and two campuses of La Consolacion College, are situated in the city - one in Novaliches in District 1 and one located in front the main city hall in District 2.

The city hall is located on A. Mabini Avenue, across the street from San Roque Parish Cathedral.

The North Luzon Expressway Operations and Maintenance Center and the Balintawak Toll Barrier are also housed in Caloocan City. Recently, the Manila North Tollways Corporation, the concession holder of the North Luzon Expressway, transferred its corporate offices from Quezon City to Caloocan City.

The Victory Liner Incorporated's headquarters and its terminal is located in Rizal Avenue Extension near the LRT Monumento Station.

Barangays of Caloocan City

Controversy

Caloocan once encompassed a much larger area without being bisected into north and south. During the formation of Quezon City, the districts that are now Balintawak and Novaliches were divided up and excluded from Caloocan and added to the newly-established Quezon City. Balintawak is a historic district because it was the original site of the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" (Unang Sigaw sa Balintawak) at a location called "Kang-kong" near Tandang Sora's house. Controversy looms to the exact location of the tearing of cedula. History scholars gathered a few years ago and still did not find the true location as based on historical accounts of people living during that time. Research shows that there are multiple locations: Pugad Lawin, Gulod, Banlat, Pacpac ng Lawin, Pasong Tamo, Kangkong etc. which still all in Balintawak district during that time. Nevertheless, Balintawak did give Caloocan a place in history for it is not the tearing of cedula but the first encounter between Katipuneros and Spaniards that took place there that marks the birth of the revolution. Novaliches on the other hand was an expansive sector with some hillsides that served as meeting places and hideouts for Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan. National Artist Nick Joaquin, once quoted in the book he authored MANILA! MY MANILA! the apportioning of Caloocan: "It is a barbaric act that Balintawak was chopped off from its original matrix.. Kalookan".^{[citation needed]}

Sister Cities

• San Jose del Monte City, Philippines
• Calamba City, Philippines

References

External links

• Caloocan City Online - Official government website

	Meycauayan City	San Jose del Monte City	San Jose del Monte City	v • d • e
	Valenzuela City		Fairview, Quezon City
		Northern Caloocan City
	Valenzuela City	Fairview, Quezon City	Fairview, Quezon City

	Malabon City	Malabon City	Quezon City	v • d • e
	Navotas City		Quezon City
		Southern Caloocan City
	Malabon City	Manila	Quezon City

Coordinates: 14°39′N 120°58′E / 14.65°N 120.967°E / 14.65; 120.967